Mather T N, Nicholson M C, Donnelly E F, Matyas B T
Center for Vector-Borne Disease, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881-0804, USA.
Am J Epidemiol. 1996 Dec 1;144(11):1066-9. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008879.
An entomologic index based on density estimates of Lyme disease spirochete-infected nymphal deer ticks (lxodes scapularis) was developed to assess human risk of Lyme disease. The authors used a standardized protocol to determine tick density and infection in numerous forested sites in six Rhode Island towns. An entomologic risk index calculated for each town was compared with the number of human Lyme disease cases reported to the Rhode Island State Health Department for the same year. A strong positive relation between entomologic risk index and the Lyme disease case rate for each town suggested that the entomologic index was predictive of Lyme disease risk.
为评估人类感染莱姆病的风险，开发了一种基于感染莱姆病螺旋体的幼年黑脚硬蜱（肩突硬蜱）密度估计的昆虫学指标。作者采用标准化方案，确定罗德岛六个城镇众多森林地区的蜱密度和感染情况。将每个城镇计算出的昆虫学风险指数与同年向罗德岛州卫生部报告的人类莱姆病病例数进行比较。每个城镇的昆虫学风险指数与莱姆病发病率之间存在很强的正相关关系，这表明该昆虫学指标可预测莱姆病风险。
